The 59th BFI London Film Fest opened with cries of protest Wednesday night, as the fest’s fiercely feminist opener, “Suffragette,” meant guests witnessed more of an uprising than they, or security, had bargained for.
In true rebel style, feminist protesters caused a stir by setting off smoke bombs adjacent to the red carpet and storming the security barriers, lying en masse along the red carpet whilst chanting, “Dead women can’t vote” — referring to recent government funding cuts to domestic abuse services.
Within Leicester Square’s Odeon it was a firm female front for both the film and fest, where BFI’s Amanda Nevill joined helmer Sarah Gavron, as well as Meryl Streep, Carey Mulligan and Helena Bonham Carter to introduce the pic to all.
Mulligan had worked the red carpet, but could only join her comrades on stage briefly, before running off to care for her newborn. She explained her personal stance on feminism: “It’s a man’s journey as well, to find that equality in society. It’s for everybody to embrace.”
After the screening, guests headed east to Old Billingsgate Market to kick off the festival with champagne style.
